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Utagawa Kunisada

Kunisada Utagawa (1786-1864) started his career as the chief pupil of the head of the Utagawa school, Toyokuni I. Born with the name Sumida, to a family of ferry boat operators, Kunisada was given his name by his master when he began his career at the ago of 15. By 1807 he was publishing his first books and his first actor prints were published in 1808. Between 1810 and 1820 he signed much of his work as Gototei Kunisada, or "Kunisada of the Fifth Ferry Pavilion." Toyokuni died in 1825, leaving the title and position of head of the school to his son-in-law, Toyoshige (Toyokuni II). Kunisada's career continued successfully in spite of the fact that he believed he should be the head of the school. He studied with the Hanabusa Icho and took the name Kochoro Kunisada for a time between the late 1820's and 1844.

Nine years after the death of Toyokuni II in 1835, he was elevated to head of the Utagawa school and took the name Toyokuni the Second (though he is commonly referred to as Toyokuni III). Kunisada was a prolific artist with over 20,000 designs to his credit. He was not only an excellent print maker but also an excellent business man who had great commercial success with his works of art. Many critics have labeled him as "decadent" since he used lush patterning and newly developed colors in his designs, filling his images with exciting backgrounds and colors. Stylistically the work of Kunisada is very different from classic Ukiyo-e from the 18th Century. It should be considered that Ukiyo-e was a vibrant and living art, created for the masses. Tastes and styles changed, as they should, and he was creating work demanded by the public. Gone were the isolated figures and austere settings of the past. Kunisada replaced them with contexts of landscape or theatrical sets, creating a new, exuberant look for Ukiyo-e. Some of his most successful proteges include Kunisada II, Hirosada and Kunichika.

Because Kunisada changed his name several times - identifying his prints can be quite confusing for the less-experienced Ukiyo-e collector. In Ukiyo-e literature and catalogues he is mostly referred to as Kunisada or Toyokuni III.